Former World Champion Released By WWE, May Compete In MMA

Former WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger has asked for his release from the company.

He was a guest on the Beyond the Fight podcast hosted by MMA star Chael Sonnen, and he said that contract negotiations broke down between the two sides.

"We were way off. They didn't value me at what I thought I was valued at," Swagger said, adding that he's trying not to let his emotions cloud what this is. "You can be angry about it, because wrestling is something you get so passionate about, but this was a business decision. They weren't giving me the opportunity to make the full amount of income I could for my family, so when you put it like that, it's time to go."

He said that he was frustrated with the stop and start booking that plagued his career.

Swagger hasn't appeared on WWE TV since losing to Baron Corbin at the No Mercy SmackDown PPV on October 9.

Swagger, who turns 35 next month, made sure to state that he wasn't retiring, and that he looks forward to getting out into the ever-expanding world of professional wrestling. He mentioned Mexico, The UK and Japan as places he'd like to work. He said that he views this as a good thing; he'll be able to spread his wings and he wants to prove to himself that he's worth the money he was asking for from the WWE. "I feel hungry for the first time in years," he said.

He also said that he might try his hand at MMA: "If someone wants to pay me to get in a cage, I'm down."

Fightful.com has learned that he left on good terms, with a door open to return in the future.